In the heart of Cidade de Deus, coach Márcio de Deus is carrying out an extraordinary feat, changing the lives of several young people through sport.
His project, focused on using Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for social transformation, has offered an alternative to the challenging environment in which these young people grow up.
His success, however, is not limited to teaching fighting techniques; he instills values of discipline, respect and perseverance. And this year, a historic milestone was reached: making 3 finals in the European championship.
Shine at the 2024 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The 2024 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Paris was a stage where Márcio’s impact was vividly demonstrated. This event, one of the most prestigious on the Jiu-Jitsu circuit, saw competitors from all over the world fighting for supremacy.
And the students Gabrieli Pessanha and Anderson Kauan represented Brazil very well, and above all, Cidade de Deus, showing the importance of Márcio’s work. She took 2 gold medals, while he accumulated a silver medal.
Gabrieli Pessanha and Anderson Kauan: prodigies from Cidade de Deus
As I said previously, among the competitors were Gabrieli Pessanha and Anderson Kauan, students of Márcio de Deus who made history.
Gabrieli, a phenomenal fighter for whom I have great affection, won gold in the super heavyweight category, a victory that highlights not only her innate talent, but also the quality of the training she received.
Anderson Kauan, in turn, achieved an admirable position of runner-up in the heavyweight category, one of the most competitive and difficult, proving once again the effectiveness of Márcio’s training and the commitment of the athletes.
A historic milestone: three endings of the same project
The most notable achievement, however, was taking two students to three championship finals, a historic milestone for any coach.
This demonstrates Márcio de Deus’s exceptional ability not only as a technical coach, but also as a mentor capable of elevating his students to international levels of success.
More than medals, a life change
The success of Gabrieli, Anderson and the other more than 600 students in the Márcio de Deus project is proof of the effectiveness of sport as a means of social transformation.
He and his team at Cidade de Deus are not only producing champions on the mat, but they are shaping lives, offering hope and direction to many young people.
Your work goes beyond medals; it’s about creating a lasting legacy of positive change and empowerment through sport. And being able to closely follow and contribute to this project is a true honor for me.
